BLUES central defender Martin Taylor will miss the first month of the Premier League season with a stomach muscle tear.

The former Blackburn player is to undergo surgery on Monday after being troubled by the problem for the past week.

Taylor played a major role in Blues being promoted from the Coca-Cola Championship last season and signed a new three-year contract in April.

Blues manager Steve Bruce said: "Martin goes into hospital on Monday for surgery. He will be out of action for at least a month.

"He has been feeling this problem for the past week or so and we just felt it was better to get it sorted out straight away."

Bruce's disappointment at losing Taylor has been off-set by the recruitment on loan until at least January of Arsenal defender Johan Djourou. He will go straight into the Blues starting line-up for Sunday's league opener at Chelsea.

He attempted to conclude a load deal at the end of last season but has had to wait until now to get the thumbs up from Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

Bruce said: "If there was one centre-half I wanted to bring to the club, then it was Johan. Mr Wenger said he would make his decision after the Ajax tournament and he has been true to his word and said the player was available.

"We had a bit of competition, mainly from Portsmouth, but I am delighted he is here. I wanted to make him the number-one target and getting him is superb.

"The big plus is that he is equally at home in the middle of the park as he is in defence. He is a really good footballer who has the world at his feet."

Bruce said nothing had altered in terms of his bid to sign Tottenham striker Mido.

The Blues manager is hoping to resurrect the #6m deal for the Egyptian international.

He said: "Nothing has changed. We have got some competition and we have made him our best possible offer."